Automobile guard strip



Feb. 3, 1942.

'J. v. MARTIN AUTOMOBILE GUARD STRIP Original Filed July 21, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 3, 1942. J. v. MARTIN 2,271,825

AUTOMOBILE GUARD STRIP 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed July 21, 1931 Feb. 3, 1942.

J. v. MARTIN AUTOMOBILE GUAfin STRIP Original Filed July 21, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 3, 19 42 AUTOMOBILE GUARD STRIP James V. Martin, Hempstead, N. Y.

Original application July 21, 1931, Serial No. 552,238. Divided and this application June 20, 1938, Serial No. 214,829

c Claims.

The primary object of my invention is to provide additional protection for the sidewalls of motor vehicles: The increasing speeds and weights of automobiles together with the'tendency to do away with mud guards and bring the body side walls outward beyond the wheels to form streamlined body sides gives rise to new means and methods for improving guard strips and placing them advantageously to cut down the mounting toll of losses due to rippin body side walls.

This is a division of my copendin application Serial No. 552,238 filed July 21, 1931, and issued as Patent No. 2,121,504.

Further objects of my invention are: to provide a hollow type of vehicle guard strip having greatest resistance ability to hard impacts.

To locate front and rear bumpers in a novel and better position for taking impacts and to combine bumpers with improved guard strips on the lower portions of vehicle bodies.

Still further objects of my invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

- Fig. 1 shows my improved guard and bumper design fitted to the lower part of a modern taxicab or small buss in side elevation. This view is identical with Fig. 12 of the parent case, Patent No. 2,121,504.

Fig. 2 is a view of my invention attached to'the same vehicle as shown in Fig. 1, but seen in front elevation, this view is identical with Fig. 14 of the parent case.

Fig. 3 shows my invention in cross section mounted on the side walls of a taxicab or buss and shows a front interior view of said taxi; this view is identical with Fig. 15 of the parent case. Fig. 4 shows my novel guard strips as they are mounted on the rear wheel panel and side of a vehicle: this view is identical with Fig. 17 of the parent case; while Fig. 5 shows, partly in section, through one of the guard strips, looking down on the rear wheel housing of Fig. 4. This view is identical with Fig. 18 of the parent case. Fig. 6 shows one form of my novel guard strip in section, and is identical with Fig. 19 of the parent case; while Fig. 7 shows an alternative form and alternative methods of connecting the ends of the guard strips to the body side walls; this view is identical with Fig. 20 of the parent case.

Fig. 8 shows a method of connecting the ends of the guard strips and their panel to the car side wall to bridge the strength against external blows.

In the following more detailed description of u my invention similar numerals will designate similar parts throughout the several views:

By bridge the strength is meant to carry the strength of a structure, as by a bridge, over a void from one strong place to another.

1 indicates the lower portion of a vehicle having an upper part and road wheels 3 carrying said vehicle yieldably by any suitable means, such for example as the means shown in the parent case. The side wall 5 intervene between the floor 4 and the vehicle bottom 6 and I have placed a guard strip .1 at the lower vehicle margin where it is well braced by the continuous bottom 6 and another guard strip 8 in the proximity of the floor brace 4, while an additional guard strip is seen higher up on the wall at 9. The guard strips pass entirely around the vehicle body, in the preferred construction, continuing on a panel [0 outside of the rear wheel. The panel [0, Figs. 4 and 5 provides a means of readily approachin the rearwheel to remove the same and the guard strips bridge the strength across the panel by the particular union they have with the adjoining guard strips as shown in Fig. 8. The horizontal members 4 and 6, see Fig. 3, constitute the horizontal reinforcements for the guard strips 1 and 8; naturally the ver-v tical walls intervening and also the vertical wheel housing walls as for example see 3' in Fig. 5 aid in the reinforcement.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7 these guard strips are built up in form and material for great strength and are hollow for light weight, being of combined wood and metal construction glued together with water resistin glue. Alternative methods of attaching the guard strips to the said wall are shown at H and [2 (Fig. 7).

In order to prevent the horizontal protrusions of other vehicles from injurin the body of a vehicle I have provided vertically disposed guard bumpers l4 and I5 outwardly of the horizontal guard bumpers I and 8; see Figs. 1 and 2. Ma shows rubber aviator cords holding the bumper I4 yieldably in extended position.

It will be noticed that vertical part [5 is attached at I6 to .the horizontal bumper 9. The bumper I4 is carried by two horizontal members I4 free to slide in guides as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 and the rubber aviator cords 14a, also indicated by dotted lines, are wound around an inner vertical bar which connects the ends of the two horizontal members: the other ends of the cord loops are attached to the inner part of the body, see the forward upright 01 the body in Fig. 1. 3' indicates forward part of rear wheel housing.

A motor for the vehicle is indicated by dotted lines at H and a drivers seat at l8, Fig. 3. The axle (Fig. 5) for the wheel 3 travels up and down in a slot of the inner reinforcin wheel housing wall after the fashion shown in my Patent 2,121,504. The end View of the forward steering wheel pockets is indicated at lower right and left of Fig. 3.

As a result of my disclosure anyone skilled in the art will be able to construct an improved guard strip of light weight, having a very hard outer surface to resist scratching, backed up by a softer, but reinforcing material in form best suited for resisting stress with least weight, and p the novel means of bridging strength over the rear wheel panel will enable guards to be built which will protect the vehicle side wall to the maximum.

Having thus disclosed the nature of my invention and its method of application to a vehicle, I do not limit myself to the specific embodiments shown, but what I claim is:

1. In combination with the wheels of an automobile, an auto body on said wheels, each of said wheels located within a wheel housing completely inclosing the upper part of the said wheels from a point below its wheel center and a re-- movable panel on the outside of the said wheel, the said panel-carrying guard strips with montised connections to adjoin similar parts on the guard strips of the body side wall.

2. An automobile body having wheel housing pockets located inwardly of the outer body side walls, a horizontal guard strip extending along the lower portions of the said walls and continuing past the outside of one or more of the said pockets; that portion of said guard strip lying outside the said pocket being carried b a wheel housing pocket cover and means to secure the last said guard strip portion to adjoining guard strip sections attached to the said body side wall.

3. In combination with an auto body having wheel housing pockets covered by a removable pocket cover, a horizontal guard strip attached to the lower side wall of the said body and having a section thereof attached to the said cover with the said section arranged so that its ends overlap the ends of adjacent side wall guard strip portions and internal reinforcement for said side side wall guard strip ends.

4. In combination with the rear wheel housing pocket of an auto body, a panel detachable and covering the outside of the said pocket, a guard strip attached to the lower margin of the said panel, a reinforcement for the lower forward corner of the said pocket and means of attaching the said panel whereby the said reinforcement braces the said guard strip at its attachment.

5. The combination with a vehicle having road wheels and a body, side and front walls for the said body lying in substantially vertical planes outwardly of the outer parts of the said wheels; wheel housing pockets formed to inclose the upper portions of said wheels from a position adjacent the wheel hubs, the forward wall of the said pockets constituting vertically extending internal bracing for outer margins of the said pockets, a cover panel for each of the said pockets and a horizontal guard strip attached to the said body walls and having a section thereof attached to the said panel and attachment means to connect the guard strip Of the said panel to the said side wall guard strip. I

6. In combination in an automobile having wheels andtires, an auto body having side walls extending outwardly beyond the said tires and the lower portion of the said walls, in the region of the wheel centers, provided with hollow guard bumpers extending substantially horizontally and braced by a horizontally disposed partition located between the said walls.

JAMES V. MARTIN. 

